used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE BREAKING STRAIN The electric light at the forge test-house sparkled on polished metal and touched the group by a big machine.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading A weight travelled slowly along a shining beam.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Jasper Carson talked to an English naval architect and a steel inspector; Ledward waited by the clerk’s table, on which were printed forms and measuring tools.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE BREAKING STRAIN The electric light at the forge test-house sparkled on polished metal and touched the group by a big machine.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Two were dark-skinned foreign navy officers; another was consul for the foreign government.
architectnounUS /ˈɑːrkətekt/
someone who creates plans to be used in making something (such as buildings)
From this reading Jasper Carson talked to an English naval architect and a steel inspector; Ledward waited by the clerk’s table, on which were printed forms and measuring tools.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE BREAKING STRAIN The electric light at the forge test-house sparkled on polished metal and touched the group by a big machine.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading In the background a workman turned a wheel.
beamnounUS /biːm/
a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather
From this reading A weight travelled slowly along a shining beam.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE BREAKING STRAIN The electric light at the forge test-house sparkled on polished metal and touched the group by a big machine.
the act of breaking something
From this reading THE BREAKING STRAIN The electric light at the forge test-house sparkled on polished metal and touched the group by a big machine.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE BREAKING STRAIN The electric light at the forge test-house sparkled on polished metal and touched the group by a big machine.
CarsonnounUS /ˈkɑːrsən/
United States biologist remembered for her opposition to the use of pesticides that were hazardous to wildlife (1907-1964)
From this reading Jasper Carson talked to an English naval architect and a steel inspector; Ledward waited by the clerk’s table, on which were printed forms and measuring tools.
clerk'snounUS /klɜːrks/
possessive form of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading Jasper Carson talked to an English naval architect and a steel inspector; Ledward waited by the clerk’s table, on which were printed forms and measuring tools.
consulnounUS /ˈkɑːnsəl/
a diplomat appointed by a government to protect its commercial interests and help its citizens in a foreign country
From this reading Two were dark-skinned foreign navy officers; another was consul for the foreign government.
dark-skinnedadjective
naturally having skin of a dark color
From this reading Two were dark-skinned foreign navy officers; another was consul for the foreign government.
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading THE BREAKING STRAIN The electric light at the forge test-house sparkled on polished metal and touched the group by a big machine.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading Jasper Carson talked to an English naval architect and a steel inspector; Ledward waited by the clerk’s table, on which were printed forms and measuring tools.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Two were dark-skinned foreign navy officers; another was consul for the foreign government.
of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)
From this reading Two were dark-skinned foreign navy officers; another was consul for the foreign government.
forgeverbUS /fɔːrdʒ/
create by hammering
From this reading THE BREAKING STRAIN The electric light at the forge test-house sparkled on polished metal and touched the group by a big machine.
plural of “form” — the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading Jasper Carson talked to an English naval architect and a steel inspector; Ledward waited by the clerk’s table, on which were printed forms and measuring tools.
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading Two were dark-skinned foreign navy officers; another was consul for the foreign government.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading THE BREAKING STRAIN The electric light at the forge test-house sparkled on polished metal and touched the group by a big machine.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the background a workman turned a wheel.
inspectornounUS /ˌɪnˈspektər/
a high ranking police officer
From this reading Jasper Carson talked to an English naval architect and a steel inspector; Ledward waited by the clerk’s table, on which were printed forms and measuring tools.
JaspernounUS /ˈdʒæspər/
an opaque form of quartz; red or yellow or brown or dark green in color; used for ornamentation or as a gemstone
From this reading Jasper Carson talked to an English naval architect and a steel inspector; Ledward waited by the clerk’s table, on which were printed forms and measuring tools.
Ledward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jasper Carson talked to an English naval architect and a steel inspector; Ledward waited by the clerk’s table, on which were printed forms and measuring tools.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading THE BREAKING STRAIN The electric light at the forge test-house sparkled on polished metal and touched the group by a big machine.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading THE BREAKING STRAIN The electric light at the forge test-house sparkled on polished metal and touched the group by a big machine.
measuringnounUS /ˈmeʒərɪŋ/
the act or process of assigning numbers to phenomena according to a rule
From this reading Jasper Carson talked to an English naval architect and a steel inspector; Ledward waited by the clerk’s table, on which were printed forms and measuring tools.
metalnounUS /ˈmetəl/
any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.
From this reading THE BREAKING STRAIN The electric light at the forge test-house sparkled on polished metal and touched the group by a big machine.
navaladjectiveUS /ˈneɪvəl/
connected with or belonging to or used in a navy
From this reading Jasper Carson talked to an English naval architect and a steel inspector; Ledward waited by the clerk’s table, on which were printed forms and measuring tools.
navynounUS /ˈneɪvi/
an organization of military vessels belonging to a country and available for sea warfare
From this reading Two were dark-skinned foreign navy officers; another was consul for the foreign government.
plural of “officer” — any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading Two were dark-skinned foreign navy officers; another was consul for the foreign government.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE BREAKING STRAIN The electric light at the forge test-house sparkled on polished metal and touched the group by a big machine.
polishedadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːlɪʃt/
perfected or made shiny and smooth
From this reading THE BREAKING STRAIN The electric light at the forge test-house sparkled on polished metal and touched the group by a big machine.
past form of “print” — put into print
From this reading Jasper Carson talked to an English naval architect and a steel inspector; Ledward waited by the clerk’s table, on which were printed forms and measuring tools.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading A weight travelled slowly along a shining beam.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading A weight travelled slowly along a shining beam.
sparkledverbUS /ˈspɑːrkəld/
past form of “sparkle” — reflect brightly
From this reading THE BREAKING STRAIN The electric light at the forge test-house sparkled on polished metal and touched the group by a big machine.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading Jasper Carson talked to an English naval architect and a steel inspector; Ledward waited by the clerk’s table, on which were printed forms and measuring tools.
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading THE BREAKING STRAIN The electric light at the forge test-house sparkled on polished metal and touched the group by a big machine.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Jasper Carson talked to an English naval architect and a steel inspector; Ledward waited by the clerk’s table, on which were printed forms and measuring tools.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Jasper Carson talked to an English naval architect and a steel inspector; Ledward waited by the clerk’s table, on which were printed forms and measuring tools.
test-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BREAKING STRAIN The electric light at the forge test-house sparkled on polished metal and touched the group by a big machine.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BREAKING STRAIN The electric light at the forge test-house sparkled on polished metal and touched the group by a big machine.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Jasper Carson talked to an English naval architect and a steel inspector; Ledward waited by the clerk’s table, on which were printed forms and measuring tools.
toolsnounUS /tuːlz/
plural of “tool” — an implement used in the practice of a vocation
From this reading Jasper Carson talked to an English naval architect and a steel inspector; Ledward waited by the clerk’s table, on which were printed forms and measuring tools.
having come into contact
From this reading THE BREAKING STRAIN The electric light at the forge test-house sparkled on polished metal and touched the group by a big machine.
travelledadjectiveUS /ˈtrævəld/
familiar with many parts of the world
From this reading A weight travelled slowly along a shining beam.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading In the background a workman turned a wheel.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two were dark-skinned foreign navy officers; another was consul for the foreign government.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Jasper Carson talked to an English naval architect and a steel inspector; Ledward waited by the clerk’s table, on which were printed forms and measuring tools.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Two were dark-skinned foreign navy officers; another was consul for the foreign government.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading A weight travelled slowly along a shining beam.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Two were dark-skinned foreign navy officers; another was consul for the foreign government.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading In the background a workman turned a wheel.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Jasper Carson talked to an English naval architect and a steel inspector; Ledward waited by the clerk’s table, on which were printed forms and measuring tools.
workmannounUS /ˈwɜːrkmən/
an employee who performs manual or industrial labor
From this reading In the background a workman turned a wheel.
